Early morning rain raises prospect of heavy ground for trials at Cheltenham

Cheltenham: more forecast rain on Saturday morning

Alan Crowhurst

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By Bruce Jackson
6:00PM, JAN 26 2018

Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse is not ruling out a change in the going after an unexpected shift in the forecast for Saturday morning.

The course had 2mm of rain overnight which was also not forecast but the ground remains soft into Saturday's meeting.

Claisse said: "I nearly went good to soft in places on Thursday afternoon but then we had 2mm of rain and now we are forecast 4-5mm more on Saturday morning."

Racegoers will be happy to know that the rain is expected to have passed through before racing with a relatively mild dry afternoon forecast with temperatures into double figures.

"If the forecast is right I would expect the ground to be much the same as it was for the New Year's Day meeting [heavy]."

There are no forecast problems elsewhere with Uttoxeter already reported heavy but dry on Friday with showers forecast during racing.

Doncaster remained dry during Friday's meeting and the forecast is the same again for Saturday.

An inspection has been announced for Fontwell's Sunday fixture with standing water reported on heavy ground on Friday and a GoingStick reading of 3.3.

The inspection is at 9am on Saturday with a forecast of more rain in the afternoon up to 5mm in total.

Many Clouds will be remembered at Cheltenham on the anniversary of his death with a screening of the film Many Clouds - The People's Horse. The film will be shown on TV screens across the racecourse following the last race.

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If the forecast is right I would expect the ground to be much the same as it was for the New Year's Day meeting